Hotel Cafe Tour

For the past four years, the Hotel Cafe Tour has practically been a required gig for musicians on the road to breakout success (coincidentally, that same road often includes stops on shows like Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl, and, of course, Old Navy commercials). This year is unique because it's the first time the tour will have an entirely female lineup, sort of like a Lilith Fair for a new generation. What's even more exciting than the acts is how affordable it is — for the San Francisco show that I would like to attend the ticket price is $19!

Each city along the way will feature a handful of artists from the roster, which includes Rachael Yamagata, Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, Priscilla Ahn, Thao Nguyen, Brooke Fraser, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lenka, Emily Wells, and more. You can see who is playing in your city at the Hotel Cafe's MySpace page, which also says that tickets went on pre-sale "today."

For now, you can check out a little playlist I put together featuring artists from the tour if you

I love Rachel Yamagata - I don't remmber how I first discovered her. I know it was *before* her cameo on the OC (as part of season 2's "lesbian" plot). I'd love to see her live -- too bad she's not playing the NC show.
PS - to all the Rachel Y. fans - you may also like Brandi Carlile (she's not a part of this tour). A bit more folky, but very emotional. Good stuff.

Rachael Yamagata is amazing. she's not part of the show coming to my area, but if she is coming to yours you MUST go see her. She sounds amazing live, and she told the audience stories about the songs and what made her write them and such when I saw her over the summer. I was blown away, and then I even got to meet her after and she was so cool and down to earth. I told her how I got her into music, which is that one of her songs (I'll Find a Way) was used in the background in a scene from Nip/Tuck, and I loved it so much I hunted it down and bought her whole album. She was like, I didn't know they my song in that show. She is so normal. If I was a songwriter/singer and a major TV show used my song I'd be screaming it to the world! But she was just like, oh, that's awesome. And then she even asked me if I was sure her performance was good because she said she was really nervous. So wonderful. Okay I'm done gushing!

You failed to mention the fact (or even put one of her songs in your 'playlist') that the only TRUE trooper on the bill is MEIKO - she's the only one playing in EVERY city on the tour.
(She's also the most talented - not sure who Rachel Yamamama is... And Ingrid is the Old Navy Sweater girl right?)